Safe Kids Worldwide Announces May 18 As "Safe Kids Day"

WASHINGTON, May 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Safe Kids Worldwide, a global organization dedicated to protecting kids from unintentional injuries, today announced that May 18 will be known as "Safe Kids Day" to raise awareness about preventable injuries, the number one killer of children in the United States. More than one million children around the world die each year from preventable injuries and millions more are injured in ways that can affect them for a lifetime.

"We don't want any parent to have to endure the loss of a child," said Kate Carr, president and CEO of Safe Kids Worldwide. "That's why we're launching Safe Kids Day – a day for communities to come together, raise awareness and get involved so we can ensure that all children around the world have the chance to grow up healthy and safe, and do all the great things kids were meant to do."

More than 9,000 families lose a child every year to a preventable injury. That's one family every hour. Too many families don't have access to the information they need to keep their children safe from tragedies such as drowning, car crashes, fires and falls. But there are affordable, proven practices that are available right now that can save a child's life.

In partnership with Children's Tylenol and with support from the GM Foundation and Wells Fargo, Safe Kids Day will be celebrated in more than 100 communities across the United States. All events will focus on celebrating kids and helping families learn simple things they can do to protect children everywhere.

The national signature event for Safe Kids Day takes place on May 18 at Highline Stages in New York City. Noted celebrities, including fashion photographer Nigel Barker, Top Chef personality Josie Smith-Malave, and U.S. Olympian Kristy Kowal are joining to create exciting experiences for kids and parents, complete with interactive displays and games. Professional stunt cyclist Chris Clark will perform two bike stunt shows, freestyle skater Rob Rodrigues will provide bike and skateboarding tips, and Gary Karton, author of "The Last Akaway," a fantasy adventure series for kids, will read and sign books. Event sponsors and supporters include Children's Tylenol, the GM Foundation, Wells Fargo, Kidde, Britax, Parents, Epsilon, The Megan and Lawrence Foley Family Foundation, Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, and Highline Stages.

The new national initiative, which shines a light on common child injuries, also helps educate parents and caregivers on proven and practical things they can do to protect their children, including "Safer in 7," which are seven simple tips to keep kids safe.

Proceeds from Safe Kids Day support local, state and national injury prevention efforts of Safe Kids Worldwide. To learn more about Safe Kids Worldwide and the Safe Kids Day initiative, please visit safekids.org.

About Safe Kids Worldwide
Safe Kids Worldwide is a global organization dedicated to protecting kids from unintentional injuries, the number one cause of death to children in the United States. Throughout the world, almost one million children die of an injury each year, and every one of these tragedies is preventable. Safe Kids works with an extensive network of more than 600 coalitions in the United States and in 23 countries to reduce traffic injuries, drownings, falls, burns, poisonings and more. Since 1988, Safe Kids has helped reduce the U.S. childhood death rate from unintentional injury by 55 percent. Working together, we can do much more for kids everywhere. Join our effort at safekids.org.

SOURCE Safe Kids Worldwide